Nicolette Tsamos - Historical Context

        After reviewing the art history timeline and considering what I already know from these movements, I can identify with multiple periods including the Barbizon School, Earth Art movement, etc. Specifically, my work relates to that of the Barbizon School due to the presence of landscapes and natural spaces. Our landscapes around us can be an indicator of our social and political standings, making the documentation and analysis of them important. Théodore Rousseau's The Charcoal Burner's Hut is an observational painting done en plein air that captures the image of a tree and a small hut in the distance. Documenting landscapes through painting is different from a photographic perspective where the photo is taken as a still with everything exactly depicted as real life. Through painting, the essence of a space can be conveyed without the need for exactness. This can create a sublime quality in landscapes that I find captivating. In my practice, I plan to develop my ability to capture them and use them to convey messages about the condition of our environment as well, rather than just for visual pleasure and documentation purposes.

  

Pollination Garden, Richard A. Rutkowski Park, 2024            The Charcoal Burner's Hut

Nicolette Tsamos - Art Talk with Filmmaker Sky Hopinka

        Through reading Art Talk with Filmmaker Sky Hopinka By Rebecca Sutton, I learned about Hopinkas medium of choice and his overall ideas about his artmaking process. Hopinka equips video, audio, and archival materials to create films and uses language to emphasize his message. Within his video, he seeks to develop a path of reasoning or logic for the audience to be guided by. After this is created, he questions how he can further make sense of the information he knows about his culture by using experimental elements of film and text to convey personal information without being overt. He reflects on the grammatical and phonetic patterns of Chinuk Wawa, imitating the structure of language to establish a set of boundaries that enhances his concepts of language itself, landscape, identity, mythology, and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation. With video, the medium allows him to remain subjective and respect the purpose of these stories and languages by interacting with the matter poetically.
        I mainly use oil paint, charcoal, and other two-dimensional mediums in my work. My process starts with an idea or message that I want to send to an audience. Then I begin to consider how this should be conveyed and who exactly my audience is. Since I mainly use images, the work will change somewhat based on my audience's understanding. I try to think of symbols and contexts that will be useful in covertly displaying my ideas and begin to sketch these concepts. Working this way helps me consider the efficacy of my work and helps me organize my thoughts to understand myself better and what I want from a certain project. I look forward to expanding what mediums I use to further emphasize my messages and reach wider audiences differently. Particularly, with three-dimensional works.

Post 9

Artist Statement:

Ever since I was a kid, I loved watching “Tom and Jerry” with someone close to me. After they passed away, that memory stuck with me and made me want to make art that gives people the same warm, comforting feeling. I was alone a lot during my childhood, and when no one was around to talk to, I would draw in my room to let out how I felt. Art became my way of talking when I didn’t know how to say things.

I’ve tried different materials like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, charcoal, oil pastels, gouache, and oil paints. Lately, I’ve been into oil painting, trying things like layering paint, using bright colors underneath, and painting with thick strokes.

A lot of my ideas come from things that happen in my life—now or in the past. Instead of starting with a sketch, I usually think about the colors I want to use first, and then I figure out what the painting will be about.

REVISED:

From a young age, I found comfort in watching “Tom and Jerry” with a loved one, a memory that became deeply meaningful after their passing. This connection inspired me to use art as a way to evoke the same sense of comfort and nostalgia for others. With being isolated for a good amount of my childhood I drew my feelings in my room when no one was there to listen. Over time, art became a language through which I could process emotions and express what words could not.

I have explored through multiple mediums, such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, charcoal, oil pastels, gouache, and oil paints. I’ve been focusing my attention into oil painting, exploring multiple layers of glazes, vibrant underpaintings, and thick paint strokes.

My inspiration comes from current events that happens throughout my life, either present or past. Instead of focusing on thumbnails first, I think about what type of color story I want my painting/illustration to portray, then I think about the subject of it.

Artist Bio:

Taina Luna is an illustrator based in Bayonne, New Jersey, currently pursuing a BFA in Illustration at New Jersey City University . His early exposure to art came through his mother, who studied art in college before focusing on education. This connection provided Taina with access to various art supplies, sparking his enthusiasm for creative expression. During his time at Bayonne High School, he actively participated in stage decoration and contributed to an art exhibition in the 2019–2020 academic year, further deepening his interest in the art world. These experiences shaped into the type of artworks he does today. 

Post 7: Sky Hopinka, Art Talk

Sky Hopinka uses his medium of choice, video, as a deep personal and experimental medium to explore language, identity, landscape, and Indigenous history. he was first inspired when learning the language Chinuk Wawa, while living in Portland, Oregon. While studying this language, it made him think about structure and communication, becoming the building stones for his filmmaking. 

I use oil paint for my main illustrations on canvas recently. I usually brainstorm ideas, however, the ideas that I use the most are the ones that come to me when I am listening to music or just taking in my surroundings, like in the park or on the bus. I've always been fascinated with how oil painters have this thick texture and vivid colors with their paintings, but I wasn't sure how to achieve that and I wasn't even sure that it was my "style". I went to an art museum in New York and our professor had us choose an oil painting that we wanted to do a case study of and follow the techniques to copy it. I ended up getting inspired by one that had the same characteristics that I was very awed by from the oil painters I followed and it ended up pushing me to achieve what I want with my paintings.  

Art on My Mind, Bell Hooks - Isabelle Legaspi

QUOTE 1: BH: So much photography doesn't lead people to think deeply about the work, to interrogate it. And the value of most prominent white photographers is not determined by audience response to their work. Yet folks will tell me, "Well, I'm troubled by Carrie Mae Weems's work, because it doesn't work with the audience." The assumption is that there is one correct response, rather than multiple responses.

Carrie Mae Weems is saying that art doesn’t just come out of nowhere. It’s influenced by the artist’s personal beliefs and life experiences. She doesn’t try to create simple answers or one clear message. Instead, she’s always asking questions like: What should this look like? Who is it meant for? Who might it challenge? For her, photography is a powerful way to show complicated stories, especially about things like race, gender, and identity. Her art isn’t always easy to understand on the surface, it makes both the artist and the viewer think more deeply.

QUOTE 2:

CMW: Right, it's linked to a whole belief system. You know, we have to make art work for us within the context of our own individual belief systems. I've often thought about this. How do you do this with photography? How do you describe complex experiences in a photograph? What are the sights of it? What should it have to look like? What does it have to challenge? To whom is it challenging? You know, who's it for? All those kinds of questions are constantly shifting for me.

Carrie Mae Weems understands that art isn’t made in isolation and that it’s shaped by what the artist believes, goes through, and wonders about. Instead of trying to make simple, one-size-fits-all messages, she accepts that creating art can be messy and full of questions. She uses photography to show complicated experiences, especially those connected to race, gender, and identity. Her work is supposed to make both the artist and the viewer think more deeply and look closer.

 

Post 12: Trips to Art Museum's: Society of Illustrators

Society Of Illustrators

Often, we see vintage works of art in museums- that range from oil to pastels. Although those kinds of traditional works are deeply important to know and study- it would be nice to see works that I could really draw from. That's where the Society of Illustrators is different. Opened in 1901, this society was created to highlight the history and progression of Illustration and to host art exhibitions from time to time.

As a young illustrator, I find this museum priceless ($10 student fees), as I get to see myself in these works, using softwares like Procreate, Photoshop, and Clip studio paint. As well as using styles and techniques that I would like to acquire- Digital and traditional mediums to build beautifully executed pieces. In this case, the exhibition was illustrations for childhood books.

Here are some of the works that sparked some inspiration:

[Marie-Alice Harel, “Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (2019)”, WatercolorPainting]

[Lela Harris, “The Color Purple by Alice Walker (2021)”, Charcoal on paper]

[Elliot Lang, “A Canticle for Leibowitz”, Gouache, Acrylic, Vector Borders, Digital]

[Elle Liu, “Mr. Fox Celebration”, Gouache Watercolor, Colored Pencil, Wax Pastel, Procreate]

Bio & Artist Statement - Isabelle Legaspi

Biography:

Isabelle Legaspi is a Filipino-American graphic designer born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 5. Her love for art bloomed at the hospital’s arts and crafts events. Before her switch to graphic design from accounting, her high school art teacher asked her why she wasn’t in art school. That was the catalyst of change for Isabelle in 2021. She now attends New Jersey City University as a student pursuing a BFA degree with a concentration in graphic design, and aiming to become a multidisciplinary designer in the future.

Artist Statement: 

My work consists of many things, but mainly graphic design. I focus on the physical aspect like the shape of packaging, the texture of surfaces or paper, and the nuances of print. The physicality and usability of my work are central to my process. I want people to interact with my designs not just visually but also through touch. My aim is to create pieces that invite engagement, offering a tactile and visual experience that can leave a meaningful impression, even if just for a moment. 

Isabelle Legaspi - Post 5 Art History

An art movement that I feel most akin to my work is the Swiss Design Movement from the 1950s to 1960s. Swiss design, also known as the International Typographic Style, has origins from the modernist movement, like Bauhaus and Constructivism. Swiss design is most known for its modular grid system and its emphasis on readability, simplicity, and objectives. 

I believe that Swiss design's impact around the world was so long lasting, that it had influenced my work without me even knowing. I had recently learned of Swiss design, and was surprised when the style is a mirror image of my own style. Simplicity and readability was always an important aspect to incorporate into my class projects and personal projects. 

Post 5 Art History - Zeyad Elshikh

The historical art movement I feel most akin to is the Baroque period (c. 1600 to 1750). I’m especially inspired by how Baroque artists used intense contrast, theatrical lighting (chiaroscuro), and dynamic composition to evoke emotion and tell stories. Artists like Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi brought a powerful sense of realism and human drama into their work that still feels alive and raw today.

In my own design work, especially the FalconJet brand identity, I use a similar approach to contrast and drama to create bold visual impact. The dark backgrounds, glowing highlights, and sharp metallic reflections in my mockups echo the Baroque aesthetic of strong light and shadow guiding the viewer’s eye.

Here is an image from my FalconJet brochure, placed alongside Caravaggio’s The Calling of Saint Matthew (1599 to 1600). Both compositions use lighting to highlight importance and create a moment of suspended action.

I’m drawn to Baroque because it doesn’t shy away from emotion. It embraces the bold, the dramatic, and the expressive. These are all things I strive for in my own storytelling through design. Whether I’m crafting an airline experience or creating a logo, I want viewers to feel something, just like Baroque paintings were meant to stir awe and wonder.

Olga D - Final Presentation_Art Statement and Next Project

Power Point presentation, My Art and Plans

Olga Doutkevitch_Art Statement and Next Project

I think about my ceramic art as sculpture that is also a 3-dimensional canvas for my paintings.

I love to have powerful colors in my work: bright with high contrasts, or subtle colors of natural clays and natural looking textures. I think all this is well suited to the nature of ceramic.

A particular quality of ceramic is its texture. Just as I see color and form with my eyes, I feel and "see" the surface through the touch of the fingers. So of course, the tactile quality of ceramic is very important. I enjoy making most interesting textures of the surfaces that people will touch and hold with their own hands – because normally ceramic objects are durable enough to be used and be interactive. In this regard the medium of Terra Sigillata lets me create both colors and beautiful surfaces. It is a new medium for me, and I'm excited to research and work in a technique of Terra Sigillata right now.

My Next Project.

For my next big project -- my BFA show-- I would like to do the combination of 2-dimensional majolica painting and three-dimensional sculpture and relief.

 I just realized that I do it already, only in separate works, but I think they they're very much in harmony with each other, so I can put them together in one installation. My project is inspired by the book that I read recently by Noah Gordon, The Physician. I won’t be making an exact illustration of that book, but it'll rather be really inspired by the idea in that book: about people who have a real dream, and are brave and strong enough to go across half the world to make this Dream happen.

The two-dimensional part of that composition is inspired by the style of Medieval architecture and illustrations in illuminated books. The way that they have the Narrative in the illustrations and architecture details together as parts of the whole composition.  A three-dimensional relief work combining Painting, high and low relief, all becoming a fully 3 dimensional objects.

I don't know exactly how it will work, I need to figure it out, but so far, I see that I already do 3-dimensional sculptural objects, and this kind of medieval inspired paintings and drawings. I realized that in my works they have so much in common that they can become somehow together.

The size of my works is often small. I think I always liked to work in that size, delicate and carefully crafted. 

This kind of tiny ceramic vessel might benefit from being a part of something larger, like sculpture objects:

 I'm already making practically modular structures which can become tower-like objects to become a display, or kind of a little homes or even a little world for my smaller works in my BFA show.

Final Presentation - Isabelle Legaspi

Isabelle Legaspi is a Filipino-American graphic designer from Jersey City, NJ, currently pursuing a BFA at New Jersey City University. After a childhood shaped by Type 1 Diabetes and creative hospital activities, she shifted from accounting to design in 2021, inspired by a high school art teacher. Her work centers on tactile, print-focused design—emphasizing packaging, texture, and user interaction to create meaningful, hands-on experiences. For this summer, I plan on making Matcha Club come to life. This gives me the chance to work on larger signage, various menu layouts, a website. etc. 

Final Presentation

Final- Gabriel Lopez

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1J3aEDMhAy-f-3H6RzA29wXyFaa6b0tKuA-v3Ca17LhM/edit?usp=sharing 

 Gabriel Lopez also known as River Star (Estrella de Rio) was born in Palmira, Colombia and currently lives in New Jersey. His work branches out in different medium of at. Using sculpting, collage, painting/digital and writing to express his life experiences from childhood to early adulthood that have had emotional impact on him. His inspiration derives from 80s and 90s cultures (art, fashion,music). As well as Basquiat, Keith Haring and other comic/cartoon illustrators some from the 80s too. Even without any formal training he has won childhood awards and worked locally in his hometown community center painting a mural. He is currently finishing his BFA Illustration degree at NJCU

FINAL PRESENTATION - Maryana Soto

 ARTIST STATEMENT

I am a Graphic Design major at New Jersey City University, I am someone who cherishes the quiet details of life. I am drawn to those delicate experiences that often go unnoticed, for it is in these small things that true emotion resides.

My work is a fusion of illustration, editorial design, and storytelling, often beginning with a simple spark. Through design, I explore themes of emotion, identity, and cultural memory particularly those expressed through small acts of care and everyday rituals. Whether I am creating zines, guides, or prints, I strive to ensure that these projects resonate with others, making them something people want to hold onto as much as I enjoy crafting them. Each piece is a whisper that lingers in the mind.

Having grown up in Peru, I am deeply influenced by the textures, colors, and traditions that permeate my work. The vibrant hues of the landscape, the intricate patterns of Andean textiles, and the histories captured in handmade objects all inform my palettes and designs. I view tradition not as a static entity but as a living, evolving force. I often contemplate how we can authentically carry culture forward and how our inherited legacies shape our creative expressions.

My creative process is hands-on and somewhat messy. I draw constantly, litter my workspace with Post-it notes, and become captivated by the arrangement of images, transforming them into patterns and collages until everything feels right. While I sometimes overthink, I also trust my instincts, always striving for honesty in my work. I believe the best designs are shared moments a silent invitation to look closer and recognize the significance in the everyday.

https://assets.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:2e168a0a-3220-4728-83b7-7663c7580b04?view=published

Portfoliopresentation_M_Soto.pdf

FINAL PRESENTATIONS - Corine Etienne

 

Final Presentation

My final presentation explores how storytelling, symbolism, and emotional connection guide my artistic practice. Drawing inspiration from artists like KAWS, Takashi Murakami, and Tomm Moore, I focus on expressive characters, rich visual detail, and themes rooted in nature, culture, and spirituality. What I find most rewarding about making art is seeing how people emotionally connect with it—whether through a smile or a moment of reflection.

In my proposal, I introduce a new animation project inspired by characters from the Bible. This series reimagines biblical figures through a contemporary, stylized lens, emphasizing their humanity, inner struggles, and spiritual journeys. My goal is to create short 2D animated vignettes that blend traditional hand-drawn techniques with modern storytelling. These animations aim to resonate with both faith-based and general audiences by highlighting timeless themes like courage, forgiveness, and transformation.

Inspiration: Influenced by Tomm Moore’s use of Celtic storytelling and transformation, combined with KAWS’ bold character recognition and Murakami’s clean, iconic forms. Jesus becomes both a visual anchor and emotional pulse of the animation series.

This concept builds on my existing work with expressive character design and narrative illustration. It reflects my interest in making spiritually meaningful stories feel visually captivating and emotionally accessible. Through this series, I hope to inspire reflection, conversation, and connection—especially when installed in public or community spaces.

Final Presentation - Arianna Almaguer

Final Presentation

Final Presentation- Brianna Pacheco

Brianna Pacheco- Final Presentation

    Greetings, my name is Brianna Pacheco. I am a multimedia artist who works with pencil, charcoal, and digital. I am typically more traditional as I prefer to do the majority of my work on paper first. I choose to color my work digitally. Through discovering who I am as an artist, I came across fantastic art. It is a broad term that encompasses imaginative realism with roots in folkloric, mystical, and mythical art. Through reflection, I find that the artwork I produce conveys this term. It is expressed in my four portfolio examples: Dragon Lady, Chibi May, May - Cow Witch, and Deceitful Lover. While each figure looks human in appearance, they all have some type of nonhuman feature.

    My exhibition proposal is a solo gallery that focuses on a series representing diversity in the form of fantasy species. The target audience is young adults (14-18) with an interest in the fantasy genre. The budget is $1,000 to account for printing, possible gallery renting requirements, and emergencies. The artwork will be 18”x24” printed digital drawings on glossy paper with framing for $61.50 per piece. The potential gallery will either be in-person at Smack Mellon or a virtual gallery with TERAVARNA.

May - Cow Witch

Chibi May

Deceitful Lover

Dragon Lady

Luis Martinez final presentation

https://1drv.ms/p/c/9f1c3e4f7f8a710b/ERICLHD41qtPv4--eotd-5gBVt7wcOGbn0wSrfME0vLOXw

Final Presentation - Marla Indhira

Hi, my name is Marla Indhira. I’m a multimedia artist interested in bringing different forms of art together to create something new. I like to combine visuals, sound, performance, and digital tools to see what happens when they interact. My work is based on experimentation. It’s often a reflection of my thoughts and the things I find myself thinking about over time.

I don’t always aim for a clear message or final answer. Instead, I focus on the process and the unexpected results that come from mixing ideas and materials. I want my work to feel open like a space where people can experience something personal, yet also share in something larger.

Each project is a way for me to explore questions, feelings, or patterns that catch my attention. I hope to invite others into that process of discovery through my art.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16OD7F1lbNgV1DIdPCRXYBV2nt850CSk9-vdNmLIQ9yM/edit?usp=sharing

Beshoy Erian- Final Presentation

Artist BIO

My name is Beshoy Erian, I am a Sports Photographer based in Jersey City, NJ who primarily focuses on digital photographs as mediums. My work consists of adding a lot of motion and emotion through sports. I shoot many sports from bowling all the way to football and from Elementary all the way up to professional Sports. Most of my work consist of very vibrant colors and add a lot of perspectives showing the sport in ways the audience wouldn't be able to see, using a variety of lenses help me to convey this. What inspires my work is growing up in a household that wasn't very keen for sports, I use my work as a way for me to connect to sports and people that are highly motivated to succeed in that sport. When you see the passion through the game, it makes you feel like you want to strive for more.

In the future I want to focus more on studio work with the same concept using different techniques. One thing im focusing on right now is Stroboscopic Photography, a techniques made all in camera whilst using strobes to get the affect I want. 

Beshoys Final

Final Presentation-Brittney Sanchez-Bueno

Final Presentation

I’m a graphic design student graduating from NJCU this year. Over the past few years, I’ve really enjoyed exploring different mediums like illustration, photography, branding, and even 3D design. Trying out different styles and tools helped me grow and figure out what works best for me visually. As a designer, it’s not always easy to show emotion, but I try to bring some kind of feeling into everything I create whether it’s through a layout, a character, or a photo.

This presentation is focused on my BFA project, Deddy Bears. It’s a character-based branding project where each bear represents a different vibe or personality. The goal is to turn it into a blind box-style figure series, with each design having its own mini backstory. I’ve been working on the visual branding, packaging, and 3D concepts to build it into a collectible line that feels fun but also thoughtful.

In the future, I want to keep expanding Deddy Bears and even introduce new character series. My hope is to turn it into a full brand one day that people can enjoy, collect, and maybe even connect with.

Deddy Bears (The Freak Show Series), Ring Bear 2025

Nam Maple - Post 10 - FINAL PRESENTATION

 Namdi Maple SR1 Final Presentation - PRESENTATION LINK

My name is Namdi Maple, and I’m an African American cartoonist and graphic designer from New Jersey. I work primarily in digital media, using tools like Procreate and Adobe Illustrator to create character-driven visuals inspired by video games, animation, music, and graphic novels. My recent project, Magical Tika, is the focus of this presentation. It's a conceptual marketing campaign for a video game idea that brings together all of my artistic skills and philosophies. The game stars a little “bunny girl” named Tika, who lives in a magic enchanted forest and fights to protect its wildlife from danger. Tika is spunky, energetic, adventurous, and kind-hearted. Despite her small, cute appearance, she’s extremely powerful and protective—traits meant to embody themes of positivity, kindness, determination, and empowerment.

 A key part of my practice is the blending of illustration and graphic design. I use my character art as the foundation and build bold, engaging designs around it. This approach allows me to create work that feels both expressive and visually cohesive, from concept art to promotional materials.

Magical Tika Sticker Sheet

Magical Tika Poster 4

Magical Tika Logos

At the heart of my creative process is a desire to connect with and inspire others. My characters are designed to be more than just illustrations—they are emotional symbols meant to resonate with audiences. Magical Tika represents my belief that character design can convey deep ideas and feelings, and my goal is to build an immersive world around her that reflects those values.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue developing Magical Tika beyond my BFA. My goal is to turn it into a full video game by expanding the story, designing more characters, developing the world, and creating merchandise. I’m committed to pushing this idea as far as I can, using my influences and creative drive to grow the project and hopefully inspire others the same way I’ve been inspired throughout my journey.

Magical Tika Background Concept Art, (By: Elaf Hussein)

Rough sketches of new Tika key art

My Personal journals filled with notes, conceptual art, and ideas

Available Magical Tika T-Shirt Designs

Nam Maple - Post 9(REVISED) - Artist Statement and Short Bio

Short Bio

     My name is Namdi Maple, and I am an African American cartoonist and graphic designer based in New Jersey. I work primarily in a digital medium, utilizing tools such as Procreate and Adobe Illustrator to create dynamic and engaging visual experiences. My work is influenced by a wide variety of media ranging from video games, animation, graphic novels and music. Everything I create is an amalgamation of the aforementioned inspirations along with a seamless blend of illustration and design techniques. The intention behind the art I create is to captivate and inspire others, thereby doing my part to ensure that the ongoing cycle of innovation and creativity continues to grow.

Artist Statement 

     Namdi Maple is an African American cartoonist and graphic designer based in New Jersey whose work explores identity and emotion through his original characters and digital medium. 

     Drawing inspiration from various forms of media- including video games, animation, and graphic novels- Namdi utilizes the tools of Procreate and Adobe Illustrator to craft engaging narratives and dynamic visual experiences. Via this creative blend of illustration and design, Namdi creates characters that are expressions of personal thoughts and feelings, as well as embodiments of themes and emotions that are relevant in today’s world.

     A central theme in Namdi’s work is the use of character design as a tool for conveying a wide range of concepts and emotions. Whether it be through light-hearted humor or pointed commentary and story-telling, these characters are imbued with traits that

symbolize aspects of human nature and society at large. Namdi believes that a good character can be boiled down to a core set of themes that act as a driving force behind how they think, act, and feel. A good character is portrayed as not only possessing certain traits, but as being a symbolic manifestation of those traits. Namdi’s most prominent original character, Magical Tika, is a prime example of his design philosophy in action. Tika is an eight year old “bunny girl” who lives in an enchanted forest and protects its wildlife from harm. As a character Tika is spunky, energetic, adventurous, and kind hearted. However despite her small size and cute appearance, Tika is overwhelmingly powerful and a force to be reckoned with when it comes to protecting the people and things she cares about. Namdi intentionally designed Tika to be an icon that symbolizes and embodies themes of positivity, kindness, determination, and empowerment. Namdi’s goal with Magical Tika is to captivate and inspire by introducing vibrant new characters and immersive worlds. His intention is to utilize the aforementioned themes to forge a lasting emotional connection between his creations and the audience.

At the heart of Namdi’s practice is the desire to create art that resonates with people and inspires them just as his own inspirations have fueled his creative journey. He believes that creativity is a cycle and creates with the intention of being a part of that cycle, however small. To him, there is no greater reward than the opportunity to influence young artists, allowing them to experience his stories and characters and have their lives changed the way his favorite stories and characters have changed his.

Nam Maple - Post 8 - Art Movement

 The art movement that I think resonates with me the most is pop art. Pop Art is an art movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by bold colors, commercial imagery, and a focus on popular culture, often blending fine art with elements from advertising, comics, and mass media. My visual style takes mass media and turns it into something personal and expressive, which aligns closely with the themes of Pop Art. Except with but my own modern, character-driven twist.

Left - Pop!, Roy Litchenstein (1961)

Right - NM Logo, Namdi Maple (2024)

Left - Drowning Girl, Roy Litchenstein (1963)

Nam Maple - Post 7 - Sky Hopinka

1. How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video?

Sky Hopinka uses video and film as a way to explore the relationships between homeland, landscape, culture, and language. By breaking these elements apart and looking at how they interact, he’s able to reflect on identity and tradition. His work often focuses on how language shapes storytelling and how those stories connect to place and personal history.

2. What medium/material/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way?

I work primarily in digital illustration, using tools like Procreate and Adobe Illustrator. These programs allow me to build detailed characters and vibrant visual worlds with flexibility and precision. I was inspired to work this way by the media I grew up with—video games, animation, and graphic novels—which all blend strong visuals with storytelling. Using digital tools helps me capture that same energy and style while also giving me the freedom to experiment and bring my characters to life in a dynamic, engaging way.

Nam Maple - Post 5

“You know, we have to make art work for us within the context of our own individual belief systems. I've often thought about this. How do you do this with photography? How do you describe complex experiences in a photograph? What are the sights of it? What should it have to look like? What does it have to challenge? To whom is it challenging? You know, who's it for? All those kinds of questions are constantly shifting for me. The moment' thatI think when I have it locked down, it is the moment in which it flips; you can't talk about the pros without talking about the cons. You can't talk about the "positives" without talking about the "negatives." And you can't talk about the truths without talking about the untruths.”- Carrie Mae Weems

To me, this quote from Mae Weems is saying that any art we make is shaped by how we see the world. That’s really interesting when it comes to photography, since it’s about capturing a real moment. At first, it might seem like it’s just showing what’s there, but the way the photo is taken is also an important factor. Aspects such as the angle, what’s in the frame, and why it was taken. These are things that show the photographer’s perspective. The photo turns out that way because of the choices they made.

“The assumption that our ability as artists is restricted to our only

being able to deal meaningfully with the question of race and rage

overdetermined critical perception.”- Carrie Mae Weems

To me, the quote means that artists shouldn’t let meaning control what they create or when they create it. What matters most is making art and having a way to express yourself.

“In most every black person's life today, home is where you find it, just where you find it. To me this suggests an open possibility that home can be for me Portland, Oregon, to the same extent that it can be New York or Ghana or Maui or Senegal. It doesn't matter” -Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems seems to answer questions by really thinking about her past and the experiences that shaped her. There’s an honesty in the way she speaks that matches the reflective, personal nature of her work.